PHILADELPHIA – There’s a handful of Flyers who have waited the full five years for this moment, so they’re the ones who can appreciate it best.
Philadelphia’s hockey team is back in the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2020. Now veterans such as Sean Couturier, Travis Sanheim, Travis Konecny and Nick Seeler have a bit of time here to soak in the moment.
In comments made prior to Tuesday night’s game against Montreal, Seeler indicated it’s gratifying to finally be rewarded for a season of hard work.
There were times before Seeler came to the Flyers when he was ready to give up on hockey. He actually took a year off when he was playing for Minnesota.
Thankfully for the Flyers, he rediscovered his love for the game. He’s one of the team’s most physical defensemen who will dive in front of a shot without giving it a second thought.
“I’m so proud of this group,” Seeler said. “A couple of us who have been here the longest have had a lot of ups and downs.
“To be able to make the playoffs, it means everything. It’s so important. I’m excited for our fans, too. They’ve been craving playoff hockey. Best fans in hockey. We’re so excited to give them the playoffs.”
It was not an easy task to climb back out of a hole. It took a run of 17-6-1 to make it.
“We worked so hard to have that opportunity,” said Seeler, who did play five playoff games for the Wild back in 2018. “And climb our way back into the playoff picture after the Olympic break, it was just important hockey.
“You could see the whole group coming together. There was a buzz in the city. You could feel it last night and the last few weeks. We’re pumped.”
Personally, it’s a crowning moment for Seeler.
“This is my fifth year here,” he said. “We haven’t made the playoffs (in any of those). It proves to make the playoffs you really have to come together as a group at the right time.”
Seeler has spent some of his time here partnered with Rasmus Ristolainen. The two have worked together, although Ristolainen has mostly been paired with Travis Sanheim since the Olympic break.
“I’m sure it means a ton to him,” Seeler said. “I know it does. He’s a huge part of our group for a long time now.
“He’s the type of special player you want in the playoffs, a big physical, mobile defenseman. So happy for him.”
>New kids in town
With a playoff spot secured, the Flyers called up five players from the Lehigh Valley Phantoms on Tuesday.
Included in that group were: Defenseman Oliver Bonk, defenseman Hunter McDonald, forward Jacob Gaucher, forward Anthony Richard and goalie Aleksei Kolosov.
Playing against the Canadiens were Bonk, McDonald and Richard, along with David Jiricek, Garrett Wilson, Carl Grundstrom and Noah Juulsen.
Not playing were veterans Sean Couturier, Travis Konecny, Owen Tippett, Trevor Zegras, Travis Sanheim, Jamie Drysdale, Cam York and goaltender Dan Vladar.
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